| Team: | Denver Broncos |
| Year: | 1972 |
| Record: | 5–9 |
| Division Place: | 3rd AFC West |
| Coach: | John Ralston |
| General Manager: | John Ralston |
| Owner: | Gerald Phipps |
| Stadium: | Mile High Stadium |
| Playoffs: | Did not qualify |
| Shortnavlink: | Broncos seasons |
The 1972 Denver Broncos season was the team's 13th season in professional football and third in the National Football League (NFL). Under first-year head coach and general manager John Ralston, the Broncos finished with five wins and nine losses, third in the AFC West Division.[1]
Hired in early January, Ralston was previously the head coach for nine years at Stanford University; in his final two seasons, he led the Indians to consecutive Pac-8 titles and upset victories in the Rose Bowl.[2] [3]
See main article: article and 1972 NFL Draft.
The Broncos' last three home games kicked off at noon MST instead of the standard 2 p.m.
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 17 | Houston Oilers | W 30–17 | 1–0 | Mile High Stadium | 51,656 | ||
| 2 | September 24 | at San Diego Chargers | L 14–37 | 1–1 | San Diego Stadium | 49,048 | ||
| 3 | October 1 | Kansas City Chiefs | L 24–45 | 1–2 | Mile High Stadium | 51,656 | ||
| 4 | October 8 | at Cincinnati Bengals | L 10–21 | 1–3 | Riverfront Stadium | 55,812 | ||
| 5 | October 15 | Minnesota Vikings | L 20–23 | 1–4 | Mile High Stadium | 51,656 | ||
| 6 | October 22 | at Oakland Raiders | W 30–23 | 2–4 | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum | 53,551 | ||
| 7 | October 29 | Cleveland Browns | L 20–27 | 2–5 | Mile High Stadium | 51,656 | ||
| 8 | November 5 | at New York Giants | L 17–29 | 2–6 | Yankee Stadium | 62,689 | ||
| 9 | November 12 | at Los Angeles Rams | W 16–10 | 3–6 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | 65,398 | ||
| 10 | November 19 | Oakland Raiders | L 20–37 | 3–7 | Mile High Stadium | 51,656 | ||
| 11 | November 26 | at Atlanta Falcons | L 20–23 | 3–8 | Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium | 58,850 | ||
| 12 | December 3 | at Kansas City Chiefs | L 21–24 | 3–9 | Arrowhead Stadium | 66,725 | ||
| 13 | December 10 | San Diego Chargers | W 38–13 | 4–9 | Mile High Stadium | 51,478 | ||
| 14 | December 17 | New England Patriots | W 45–21 | 5–9 | Mile High Stadium | 51,656 | ||
| Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. | ||||||||